Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Ondo state commissioner for
information, says Lucky Aiyedatiwa, acting governor of the state, has not put a
freeze on LG accounts.
On Wednesday, the Ondo house of assembly declared Aiyedatiwa
as the acting governor — after months of political uncertainty in the state.
The assembly took the decision after receiving a medical
leave notification from Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor.
Subsequently, reports suggested that the acting governor had
ordered that the LG accounts be frozen.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the commissioner said:
“At no time has the acting governor or any functionary of the state put a
freeze on local government accounts or order any closure”.
“This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good
people of Ondo state, particularly officials of local governments to disregard
the rumour.
“Necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been
deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence
and processes in their operations by the government.
“The state government
is committed to proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the
existing 18 Local Government Areas in the state as a way of enhancing
development at the grassroots.
“The government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition
party before the state high court, and we are hopeful that contending issues
before the court will be decided shortly.
“While a date has been fixed for the conduct of local
government election in the state, the Ondo State Independent Electoral
Commission (ODIEC) has started working on delineation of a minimum of 5
councillorship electoral wards in each of the LCDA(s).
“Delineation of these electoral Wards by ODIEC is part of
the transition guidelines provided for in the Government White Paper for
transiting from 18 LGA(s) to 51 LGA(s)/LCDA(s) in the state. Government is
committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic Elected Local
Government Area in Ondo state.”
‘AKEREDOLU’S PROTOCOL CHIEF NOT SUSPENDED’
The information commissioner also denied claims that Bola
Alabi, chief of protocol to Akeredolu, had been suspended.
“Also, our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation
of our Circular letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of 14th December 2023 in respect of
the preparation of the acting governor’s engagement, which has been
mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the
governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension,” he said.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The chief of
protocol to Mr governor has not been placed on suspension by the Ag. Governor
nor by any person.
“It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of
Mr Governor’s engagements is less than two percent of the CoP’s
responsibilities.
“Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal
of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr.
Bola Alabi is busy with Mr. Governor.”
The commissioner added that the acting governor is
“prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective
running of the administration”.
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